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Thursday, December 20, 2012

All done with your shopping? I'm not either, but hopefully by the end of this rainy day I'll have gifts for everyone on my list and then I'll take on the challenge of wrapping them up. I have to admit I'm not feeling so great about my gift presentation with the Big Lots paper and pre-made stick on bows I picked up last week - especially after seeing how Martha does it.

Looks like Martha had a little insider info about the whole Emerald Green color selection. I like the color block wrapping.

Isn't she clever? She made a big, pretty bow from her wrapping paper scraps.

And of course, hand made tags for everyone.

As much as I admire Martha's commitment to gorgeous packaging, lots of folks (me included) find that it takes too much time to make this type of gift wrapping magic happen in our busy lives. She gets points off for that.

Over on Pinterest, there are lots of great gift wrapping ideas, and some of them look pretty easy.

This one looks easy, provided you have whatever bush produces these pretty red berries nearby. I will have to take a few practicality points off if you're cramming it into the trunk along with a dozen other gifts for a 2-hour drive to your family Christmas dinner.

And of course, my favorite option gets high marks because it's so quick and easy

Sunday, December 16, 2012

How are your holiday preparations coming? As the days race by to the big event, I find myself a little behind on my holiday to-do list. I still have more shopping to do, gifts to wrap, and cards to mail.

My parents are hosting Christmas dinner this year, as they have done over dozens of Christmases in the past. My mom usually goes all out with her Christmas decor, and when we walk in the door to their home and see the Christmas tree, the gifts and all of her Christmas decorations, it feels just like Christmas should feel. My mom's design style is fairly traditional - her dining room is painted a lovely shade of red, and there is red and white toile on her dining chairs. Her brass and crystal chandelier is usually decorated with ornaments she hung from holiday ribbon. Every year our Christmas table is set with Mom's white Christmas china and big red goblets - and every year it is beautiful.

Oh, and the smell! At Christmas we are treated to homemade ravioli. It's the only time during the year we have it. Usually I or my brother help my mom make the Christmas ravioli. We make close to a hundred to feed about a dozen of us, give or take. There is something so comforting about spending every Christmas in the house where you grew up. Sure, some of the paint colors and furnishings have changed over the years, but it still feels like home, and it stirs up an emotion inside of you that you can't describe in just one word, because its an emotion that has many layers. First and foremost, there is joy, because it's Christmas and you're spending it with the people you love most in the world. But there's also a longing for the carefree days you spent in that very house as a child, a longing for the comfort of knowing all was right in the world because your Mom and Dad made sure you felt loved and safe. Also buried in that mix of emotions is an strange concoction of pride and sadness as you look around the table and see your own children looking a little more grown up - and in turn, needing you a little less. So, as we race toward the big day, my goal is to focus less on the pressures brought on by all the shopping and preparations, and instead try to savor these strange and powerful emotions.Merry Christmas!

Monday, December 10, 2012

I've said it before here, but it bears repeating. The right light fixture can completely transform a space. And with light fixtures, I'm all over the map with what appeals to me. Because of my history with historic home restoration, I have a soft spot for antique lighting, but I like modern light fixtures too. No matter what period they come from, I particularly like a large-scale chandelier.

Yes, this dining room by Amanda Nisbett is filled with beautiful furnishings (and curtains), but that enormous turquoise chandelier still manages to steal the show!

Didn't we all fall in love with the etageres on the counter tops in this kitchen? Note the large scale chandelier over the rustic table. Oversized, definitely, but it still feels right because of the simple, open design.

Thursday, December 6, 2012

Somehow this week has gotten completely away from me, but I did get to check into the cyber world quickly this afternoon, and I found out that Pantone has named Emerald Green as the color of the year for 2013! Did you see that coming? I didn't either, but as a lifelong lover of all things green, I'm pretty excited about it!

Unwrapping this would send me to the happiest of places!Is anyone else as excited about this as I am?Need some help pulling your style together? The Green Room Interiors can make your home a beautiful place to be! Call Kim Lemmon at 423.653.3186 or email thegreenroominteriors@gmail.comDon't forget to follow The Green Room Interiors on Facebook!

Monday, December 3, 2012

Have you started decking your halls yet? We're only a few days into December and I already feel behind. I think my neighbors starting putting up their Christmas decorations right after Halloween, yet the Dollhouse exterior is completely void of holiday embellishment!

I normally don't do a lot of holiday decorations outside, but I do like to dress up my front doors. Here are a few options that caught my eye.

Isn't this what the Christmas in your head looks like? I love the placement of everything here. A wreath on each door works for me and I love the pine cone accented swag above the doors. The only thing I would add are some small potted trees on both sides of the doors.

From Martha Stewart.

First can we just talk about that door? It's everything. And I do like the whole vertically stacked wreaths they have going on with monochrome ribbon. Side note: I've also seen lanterns filled with white Christmas tree lights and it's very cute.

Another Martha Stewart styled door. Green and white is always so fresh. I love the little trees in the white urns. This entire look is a winner.

. If I'm not mistaken I think this image comes from a Pottery Barn catalog. Here's what I like: the big silver ornaments and the bare branch swag above the entrance. The rest of it feels overdone to me.

What I love most about this image is the color of that door. It's the perfect shade of green! And the weathered black urns with rosemary trees?- yes! But the red floral decorations? - not so much. They feel a little uptight to me.

Sunday, November 25, 2012

Hello and happy Monday! How was your Thanksgiving? Mine was delicious (thanks Mom!) and I'm happy to say that my now slightly larger backside did not stand in any of those awful Black Friday lines. I will never understand the excitement some people seem to get from that tradition. That being said, I did manage to make it to a few Antique Malls and actually found some lovely things. Like this sweet floral chair.

It has a great shape - and that peach and gray floral fabric? It reminds me of my own peach and gray wedding ages ago.

Who doesn't love a gold faux bamboo table?

Alex Papachristidis hasn't met one he doesn't like (and I say that in the best possible way).

Sunday, November 18, 2012

I'm taking this week off from my blog to spend a little quality time with the family. I'd like to express my sincere thanks to all of you who take precious time out of your busy lives to check in on my little blog. I am humbled and so very grateful for your support.Have a safe and happy Thanksgiving holiday!

Thursday, November 15, 2012

Apparently the folks at Snuggie have jumped on the chevron bandwagon too.

Spotted at my local Bed Bath & Beyond.

Can Imperial Trellis Snuggie be far behind?Need some help pulling your style together? The Green Room Interiors can make your home a beautiful place to be! Call Kim Lemmon at 423.653.3186 or email thegreenroominteriors@gmail.com

Want to join my fan club?Need some help pulling your style together? The Green Room Interiors can make your home a beautiful place to be! Call Kim Lemmon at 423.653.3186 or email thegreenroominteriors@gmail.com.Follow The Green Room Interiors on Facebook!